Barbie - Powerful in Pink

 

For rent on Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon, and YouTube 

    Like many things from our collective childhoods, Barbie has gone through something of an identity crisis. Intended as little more than a toy for girls, perceived as a consumerist piece of propaganda spreading unhealthy expectations for women, and rediscovered as a means of positive female empowerment (at least partially). Not to mention the "unconventional" ways some people have played with the toys over the years. It's one of the many icons of childhood that may have started out as nothing more than a number on a balance sheet for toy manufacturers. However, it still resonated with people in profound and meaningful ways, not unlike The Transformers or Beenie Babies.

    The makers behind the Barbie movie seem to realize this well enough to deliver a fantastic and entertaining story about feminism, perception, patriarchy, unhealthy expectations, and the need for balance. It may not be perfect in its presentation, but it doesn't need to be, and that's okay. 

   While this would typically be where I would summarize the story, this is one occasion where I think it's best that I did not do so this time. Partially because the story is, among other things, borderline bonkers in the most fun way possible. It embraces the absurdity of its presentation while still delivering a surprisingly profound message about all the things listed earlier. For the best experience possible, it's better not to know too much, except that it works in its own way. 

    The performances are what ultimately holds the movie together. Everyone in the cast has incredible energy and never misses the mark. Kate McKinnon, in particular, gets to have the most fun as the embodiment of the unorthodox ways that some of us preferred to play with Barbie dolls. You'll know exactly what I mean when/if you see it. 

    To say more about this movie would spoil the many surprises in store. While it may not be my favorite movie with profound feminist themes, it is a delightful surprise through and through. It's worth checking out at least once and will leave an impact in some way. 

    I promise it's worth your time. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

The Equalizer 3 - Denzel Delivers even when the Movie Doesn't

 

Playing in Theaters 

        Denzel Washington is the kind of Hollywood talent who can easily entertain by reading the phonebook on stage. His incredible screen presence and abundance of range & talent put him on par with legendary actors like Lawrence Olivier and James Earl Jones. He's one of those talented performers who likely couldn't turn in a bad performance, not even on purpose. No matter the quality of the movie he's in, you can rest assured he'll deliver the good every time. Even if said movie isn't entirely on par with what came before. 

    For those who don't know or need a quick refresher, The Equalizer was a television series from the 1980s about a former CIA operative named Robert McCall moonlighting as a secret vigilante helping the disenfranchised and the downtrodden. It ran for four seasons and regularly earned actor Edward Woodward an Emmy nomination. Then, in 2014, director Antoine Fuqua, then known for Training Day and Tears of the Sun, developed a feature film adaptation of the series starring Denzel Washington, followed by a sequel four years later. 

    While both films before the latest entry were entertaining in their own right, I found the second film superior because of the extra time developing the characters, thereby making the action more engaging. Sure, all the bag guys in the first film were pure evil, and it was viscerally exciting to watch Denzel plow through them all with no prejudice. Still, the steaks of the second film were more personal and character-driven, adding a layer of texture to the story that was sadly missing from the first. 

    The third entry, today's subject, has a story that is more in line with the first film and does not have enough extra texture from the second film. Resulting in a conclusion that feels less satisfactory than it otherwise should. While it will always be entertaining to watch Denzel take down evil-doers with no mercy and in such cool bravado, one can't help but feel this story deserved more texture for its final chapter. 

    Taking place sometime after the events of the second film, the story follows Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) on a mysterious mission somewhere in Italy. After taking a nasty hit, he is picked up by a local and brought to a small town, where he is treated by the local doctor. McCall spends the next few weeks recovering from his injury and gets to know the townspeople, finding serenity in the environment and a warm welcome from the people. However, all is not well, as the town is under siege by a local crime family seeking control through intimidation and murder. As McCall observes the dangers around him, he has grown too fond of the place and its people to sit out this call to action. Does he have the strength to take on yet another crime family? 

    There's not much in this film that hasn't been done before in the first installment. McCall goes somewhere seemingly tranquil, finds its infection of terrible people, and promptly deals with it the best way he knows how. The only real difference is the change of scenery, which I might have enjoyed more if the colors weren't so incredibly muted. Granted, this is a gritty story with some dark villains, but if you're going to film somewhere as colorful and exotic as Italy, you shouldn't drown it in so much dreary undersaturation. At least not in my opinion. 

    Aside from enjoying Denzel Washington's expected powerhouse presence and delivery of well-deserved beatdowns of some awful bad guys, the film doesn't provide enough of a satisfactory conclusion to justify the price of a theater ticket. Combined with unbalanced sound mixing and the dull color palette, my experience with this film caused me to long for something more. While all the praise goes to Denzel Washington for his commitment and professionalism, he deserved a much more textured conclusion to this story than what was provided. 

    While I recommend watching it if you're a fan, I suggest waiting for it to arrive on VOD or streaming. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.